The ocean current that is surrounded by the Calm Belts and follows an imaginary line that runs from north-west to south-east across the middle of the world and perpendicular to the Red Line. The Red Line is a vast continent that circles the globe from north-east to south-west. These two lines divide the rest of the Blue Sea into the Blues: North Blue, East Blue, West Blue, and South Blue.

This stretch of ocean is said to be the most dangerous place in the world, and is commonly referred to as the Pirates' Graveyard by people from the four Blues because of this reputation. Those few pirate crews that make it to the second half of the Grand Line, known as "the New World", refer to the first half as "Paradise", showing it is all relative. Most believe that it is impossible to safely leave the Grand Line save at its beginning and end. However, the World Government regularly sends ships cross the Calm Belts by coating their hulls with Seastone, rendering them invisible to the Sea Kings. The Grand Line is placed similarly to the equator. In fact the main importance of the Grand Line is that it is the only way to circumnavigate the globe. The Grand Line along with the Red Line are what separate the 4 Blues and as such are key to worldwide trade and travel in that the Lines are placed along the pathes between the Blues. This makes them valuable routes of travel and obstacles for both pirates and civilians.

Despite the reputation of the Grand Line being dangerous and chaotic, many normal people manage a living on individual islands regardless, having adapted to their home land. This indicates that it is actually traveling within the Line itself that is dangerous, as it virtually guarantees facing unpredictable climates and dangerous wildlife. However, there are also several islands, or portions of the islands, which are considered dangerous in their own right, and thus, they are either uninhabited or the citizens have taken precaution to the threat.

All over the world, strange fruits grow, known as devil fruits. Devil Fruits are mystical fruits found throughout the world that, when consumed, provide the eater a special ability, depending on the type and variation of the Fruit itself. With only one notable exception an individual can only acquire the powers of a single Devil Fruit.

- Paramecia- The most common of the three types, Paramecia-type Devil Fruits offer their users superhuman physical abilities or traits, such as shock wave generation and locking onto targets. Other Devil Fruits can alter features of the body such as a rubber physique or a body of blades, or the people, objects, and environment around the user, like levitating objects or turning people into toys. Finally, there are some users that can manipulate and generate some kinds of substances, such as wax and poison.

- Zoan- The users of Zoan-type Devil Fruits gain the ability to transform into an animal (and acquire every trait affiliated with said animal). The user can also transform into a human-animal hybrid form or a twin-beast hybrid. Zoan Fruits can also be transferred into weapons, such as guns or swords. There are Zoan Devil Fruits based not only on common animals, but also on prehistoric animals like dinosaurs and mythological creatures as well (ancient and mythological are rarer than the typical Zoan Fruit, with mythological said to be even rarer than Logia Devil Fruits).

- Logia- The rarest of the three Devil Fruit types, Logia-type Devil Fruits offer their users the ability to transform themselves into an element, whether it be solid elements like ice or sand, liquids like mud or syrup, gases like fire, smoke and poison gas, energy like lightning, or into a materialization of abstract concepts such as darkness. This can effectively make them intangible, making physical attacks harmlessly go through them, or allow them to be able to absorb the attack completely. They also gain every ability related to that element (such as in the case of sand where moisture can be absorbed or lightning where the user can travel through objects like electricity does) and gain the skill to disperse, control, and rejoin any part of their bodies while conscious and in control of their powers (including explosions, bullet wounds or cuts). Logia users can move every part of their transformed bodies while in element form.

~~~~◇◇◇~~~~

Our story begins with Artemis Ptarma, Captain of the Star Eye Pirates. She was born and raised in Water 7, she worked as a Shipwright in the New Galley-La. When she was 14, she stowed away on a pirate ship as they were preparing to head out onto the Grand Line. When she was discovered, it was too late. They threatened to toss her overboard, however, she was saved by the captain of the Maelstrom Pirates; Strom. He was a man who had the power of the Wind Wind Fruit. She travelled with them for 3 years as their faithful shipwright. On an expedition of a jungle island, she came across a strange fruit; one she recognized as a devil fruit. Artemis knew the consequence of not reporting this to the captain, as well as the consequence of eating the fruit.

She hid the fruit in her bag and returned to the ship, claiming to be empty-handed. Disappointed that the island was a bust, the Maelstrom Pirates set off once more. That night, she showed the Captain her find, and requested that she be the one to have its power. He agreed, but on one condition.

"Taking on this power, means you believe youre ready to become a Captain of your own crew. If you choose to accept this power, you will leave the ship at the next island. From then on, we are rival Crews. My daughter, is that something you want?"

"...Yes. It is."

"Then the fruit and its power are yours, Artemis."

She gave him a definite nod and began to eat the fruit, commenting on its terrible taste. After, she covered her eyes biting her lip in pain. Once it passed, she looked at Strom, who simply stared back.

"So... The fruit was Logia; the Astral Astral Fruit." He handed her a blindfold to cover her eyes. "Here, this will hide that you have a fruit. It'll help keep you safe."

Artemis accepted the blindfold and stood up, having accepted this fate.

"...Thank you, Old Man."

~~~~◇◇◇~~~~

Now...

The 17 Year old, leaned against the bar, drink in hand. She stared at the bartender through her blindfold as she continues their conversation.

"All I'm saying, is that ever since Straw Hat Luffy went out the same way Roger did in the first Pirate era, it's sparked an even bigger Era of the Pirate!"

"Kid... aren't you a bit young to be a Captain? Do you even have a crew?" The tender sighs.

"I got a ship, thanks to Strom. I'm currently searching for the best of the best! The Star Eye Pirates will rise, and I'm going to be the New king of the pirates!" She slams her drink down, some of the liquid sloshing onto the table. With that, she adjusted her black top hat, dusted off her purple tailcoat, and grabbed her pipe staff.

Artemis opened the door to the bar, a gust of wind blowing her long Navy blue hair behind her. She smirked widely a d set off into the bubbly aired Sabaody Archipelago, ready to find herself a crew!

As the ocean currents rocked and rolled calmly, Ingward stared out the view port of his room on his master's ship. With a heavy sigh, he placed a single, webbed hand on the window, the sounds of the seastone handcuffs and chains that held his arms jingling lightly like bells. Ingward was a being known as a Fishman, a humanoid with the traits of a type of fish. His people were known to be physically stronger than average humans, had the ability to breathe under water, and could even control water to an extend. His body was slim, with webbing along the undersides of his arms, giving him wing-like fins. His head was sleek, streamline, and he wore a simple pair of navigator's goggles on his forehead right in front of the dorsal fin that crowned the top of his head. His body was partially dry, with the edges of his fins cracking and a bit of blood oozing out from the cracks along his back. His master, a particularly cruel and ill-spirited Celestial Dragon, one of the World Nobles who ruled the World Government, named Vaclav, was known for purposefully dehydrating the Angel Shark fishman, to keep his strength low so that he would not be able to escape. However, he had been bought by Vaclav for the soul purpose of acting as the Noble's private muscle. Being a Fishman, there were very few who could physically match Ingward blow for blow, and as such he held a slight air of intimidation about him. As he looked out to the sea, he noticed a patch of red seaweed, floating gracefully on the surface of the water. As it swirled in the current, it took a shape that made Ingward double take as he remembered a fond, distant memory. A girl, with beautiful flowing red hair, and a voice that could calm a hurricane. He closed his eyes, humming a tune to himself; the girl he was thinking of's favorite shanty, the song "Bink's Booze". Finally, with a mournful sigh, he spoke in a hoarse, dry voice.

"Lyra....Where are you?...I'm so...so sorry..."

Finally, the ship jolted as it made port. Its destination: the pleasure resort of Sabaody Archipelago! Within moments of arriving, a sound echoes out from the upper corner of the room. A large, blue Transponder Snail was ringing loudly, finally answering itself. The voice that echoed out was loud, high-pitched, whiny, and rather displeased.

"INGWARD! WAKE UP, YOU LAZY PIECE OF TUNA JERKY! Father and Mother have given me leave to spend the whole day at the Amusement Park here at the Archipelago! I want to go on the roller coasters, eat plenty of cotton candy, and then I want to go purchase some new slaves! Get your dried out, clammy carcass up here THIS INSTANT!" The Transponder snail then hung up, closing its eyes as it went back to sleep. Ingward sighed, knowing full well that today was going to be long and painful, literally. His master's favorite pastime, aside from indulging in hedonistic luxury, was torturing the poor fishman mercilessly. All he could do was look out the window one last time before leaving the room.

"Please...somebody...deliver me from this hellish life..." He was a proud fishman, once, and a former Cabin Boy of the Sun Pirates, a group of famous Fishman Pirates lead by two of the most famous members of his race; first, the hero Fisher Tiger, and then, his former teacher, The First Son of the Sea and former Helmsman of the infamous Strawhat Pirates, Jinbei. On his shoulder, the large blue sun within a sphere that symbolized the Sun Pirates was emblazoned proudly, but marred by numerous scars, as if someone had purposefully tried to cover the tattoo with scar tissue, but failed miserably.

As he walked to the deck to meet with his master's entourage, he continued to think to himself. "One day...One day, I will be free...and when that day comes...." He looks ahead, seeing the group waiting on deck, and speaks to himself silently "I will personally enjoy paying you back for each of these wounds, 'Master'...."

Atop the rooftops of the amusement parks many attractions, houses and rides was an extremely handsome young man of about 19 years of age. Dressed in a short sleeved blue shirt, a set of dark brown pants, a pair of dark colored shoes and wearing a dark brown scarf around his neck, this young man stares down at the festive town below him with his sparkling green eyes. He wears a smile as the wind blows the tails of his scarf behind him. He was in his element. The wind at his back and his daggers on his hips. His pouch of money on his leg and all of his knowledge at his disposal. He was happy. But, Terran knew something was missing....

Terran: *he sighs as he jumps down from the rooftop where he was and snags an apple from the stall nearby when the shopkeeper was looking elsewhere. As he munched on it, he tossed up into the air a few times, trying to think about what he would do today* This place is great and all but the security here sucks. *he tosses the apple into the water nearby and starts to stretch his limbs out. As he does so, he spots a boat coming into port with a fishman on the deck of the ship, seeming to be escorting a young girl. She looked rich too. With a smirk he jogs over to a nearby post and hops off of it to land on one of the posts of the dock, sitting there casually with his hands behind him to support him as he leaned back to watch them come off the ship* Fishman huh? This should be fun~

Artemis stumbles through the districts, drunk and attracted to the sights and sounds of the park. She grins childishly and waltzes right on in, earning some disdainful glares from residents. Wether it was because she was a pirate, completely shitfaced, or carrying a bottle of whisky... She wasn't sure. For all she knew, it could have been all three.

Artemis didn't care one bit.

"Gonna find *hic* me a Crew~ Gonna be the *hic* Pirate King~" she chuckles to herself, maneuvering the crowded park with her twirling and almost dance-like pattern of movement. "Aye, but who first??"

As she whirls about the crowd, she eyes each and every one of them before coming to a stop and downing the rest of the bottle. "None of these *hic* schmucks'll do the trick! I need the best!!"

She stumbles and teeters toward the port, stopping under Terran's pole and promptly throwing up into a trash can. "Mmmmmaybe someone on thhhhe boat will beeee good enough!!"

As Vaclav and his entourage, consisting of their Marine escort as well as Vaclav's expensive date, a rather wealthy noblewoman, exited the boat, Vaclav couldn't help but give a snobby, disgusted look at Ingward.

"Stop stop stop! We CAN'T go into public with my 'muscle' looking like a shriveled up mess! Get this thing some water so he can look presentable!"

One of the Marines saluted, taking a bucket from one of the sailors aboard the ship and running down to the dock. He fills the bucket with fresh seawater and runs back, immediately dousing Ingward in the cool, salty water. Ingward's body immediately soaks the water in, his flesh becoming sleek and strong again as he feels the water fill him with energy. He stands up straight, his sharp teeth bared slightly as he lets out a long, hissing breath. Vaclav's mood seems to brighten slightly at the sight. "There now, at least he looks more intimidating! Lets see any ruffians try to mess with us while we have Ingward here!~"

His companion, however, still seems slightly disgusted by Ingward's very presence. "Honestly, Vaclav, can't you leave the fish behind? He'll stink up the whole park!"

Vaclav waves her worries away casually, as if he didn't care. "Nonesense! Ingward is my personal muscle! Look at him! A real Shark-Type fishman! He's stronger than ten men, and can even use that Fishman Karate mumbo-jumbo his kind is known for! My Father bought him for me so I could walk around without fear of being accosted, like my uncle was by that loathsome pirate Strawhat Luffy! Now, onward to the park! Come, Ingward!" His Marine guards attach a chain collar to Ingward's neck, handing the chain leash to Vaclav, who yanks it hard and forces Ingward to walk with him and his date.

As they walk down the dock, they notice Artemis drunkenly wandering about. Vaclav lets out a disgusted sound as she walks past him. "What a ghastly girl! If she should come upon us again, I'll have Ingward crush her skull! Onward!" The group continues onward towards the park, unawares of Terran. However, Ingward himself looks back to the pole and glances right up at Terran, his shark-like eyes locking right onto him for a second before returning to watching his master after another painful yank of the leash.

As Artemis wandered through the Archipelago, she finds herself arriving at a small dive bar, the sign reading "Shakky's Rip-Off Bar". Sitting outside the bar was an old man in a white coat and orange shirt, his feet covered in sandals. His hair was long and white, and his beard resembled the lower half of a skull's jaw. His eyes were hidden behind the glare of the sun on his glasses as he drank from a bottle of rum. As Artemis drunkenly wandered by, he overheard her mumbling about her dream. "King of the Pirates, huh? I remember a young kid around your age a few years ago, came through here bragging about something like that. Kept yelling it to the heavens! 'I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!'....Ah, those were just the start of the new Great Pirate era. This new one...it may look like the old era, but there are a lot of new, big players. So, tell me, kid, do you have a ship or a crew to help you become 'King of the Pirates'?"

Terran looks over the shark man and sighs. “I can tell you’re a sad little slave man....That’s not cool.” He hops off his pedestal and stretches again, hearing the retching from beneath him. He raises an eyebrow to the girl before sighing again and hopping down from where he was.

Casually he strides up to her and crosses his arms, smirking a bit. “You know it’s dangerous to drink that much for someone as young as you. You need some help getting home pretty lady?” He asks her, not knowing who she was or what she could do. All he knew was that she was cute and with her as drunk as she was, he could get lucky in more than one way.

"I got me a ship, lookin *hic* for my crew!" She plops down onto a seat. "They're gonna be the best of the best~ Ooohhh but the ship! I helped build it, back in Galley-La!" She reminisces. "The Maelstrom Pirates kept in in their ship, and used it for exploring areas the main ship couldn't go. Her name... 'Nova Fall'!" She grabs a bottle if whisky and takes a swig.

-after, while she's tossing cookies-

"I'm fine! Lookin... *hurk* for some people..." She teeters as she stands up, wiping her face on a napkin. "Muuuuuch better!" She looks Terran over through the blindfold, taking note of his features.

"My home is my ship, kiddo." She cracks her neck and stretches her arms, calling him such even though he's older that her. "Did you wanna see it or somethi-"

Terran blinks at the vomiting young woman for a minute, reaching up and scratching his head a little. “You’re a ship captain? You look....so young....” he sighs and crosses his arms. “Well as far as looking at your ship goes, consider me uninterested. If you’re as useful at the helm as you are blind, I have a feeling we won’t get very far. Besides, I have a better idea.” He smirks at her. “And it involves that Fishman slave I saw earlier guarding those rich punks.” He puts his hands behind his head. “Why are you in a place like this anyways? Don’t you have like, a crew or a family you came with or something? Somewhere I can take you to make sure you’d be alright? Dangerous place to be wandering around, what with the whole pirates thing going around again.”

"I left them." She coughs, wiping her face again. "I made a decision that caused me to have to leave the crew. But i was ready for it. So was Strom, so he gave me the Nova Fall back, and dropped me off here." She sighs, finally done puking, but nowhere near sober. "I get to make my own story now." She grins, adjusting the blindfold. "Now... what about this Fishman slave?"

Terran nods. “Fishman Slave that was with some noble couple yeah. I’m thinking about mugging them and freeing that Fishman. Poor bastard doesn’t deserve that kinda fate. Why? You planning on helping me out with rescuing him? I mean, if your ship’s any good than a quick getaway would be nice.” He holds his hand out and grins. “Whaddya say princess? You up for some fun?”

"Slavery is sumthin' I hate. Yeah, I'll help" she teeters unbalanced, leaning on her pipe staff for support as she tried to focus her vision.

"Nova Fall is a Galley-La ship! Of course she's fast! I built her, after all~" Artemis says with great pride. "She'll be the perfect getaway... but one one condition." She leans in and grins. "Ya join my crew after!"

Terran blinks, again surprised by the girl’s words. “Your....crew? Wait....Are you a pirate?” He scratched his head a bit but sighs, nodding. “Alright, fine. I’ll join your crew or whatever. Not much of a sailor though. But if you need something stolen, cooked or a bad guy cut up, I’m your guy. Seeing as....” He pauses for a moment, pondering his word choice. “....I guess since we’re being partnered up, I should introduce myself. The name’s Terran. My father’s a knight and my mom’s a thief like me. Complicated I know. Just avoid that topic and we’ll get along just fine. What’s your name?” He asks, starting to walk towards the amusement park but waiting behind to make sure that Artemis was following.

"Damn straight I'm a pirate!!" She shouts, earning more disapproving looks. "I could definitely use a cook, and thieving skills will definitely come in handy!" She stumbles, but regains her balance after teetering more. "The name's Artemis, Captain of the Star Eye Pirates!" She puts a fist to her chest proudly as she follows Terran.

“Star eye pirates huh? Well I suppose I can ask more questions later. For now, let’s just focus on the task at hand.” He grins as the two walk, Terran helping Artemis to stay upright when she threatens to stumble or teeter too far in one direction. “The plan’s actually not all that complicated. Get fish face away from his handlers and distract them while I undo his collar. Then we bolt for your ship and leave. Of course, that might involve shoving those nobles into the water or something but they’ll be fine I’m sure. Who’s gonna miss two drowned rats right?” He puts his hands behind his head in a lazy posture as they walk. “Worst case scenario we’ll have a Marine Admiral in our asses the entire way to your ship. I just hope it’s not Shirotora or someone crazy strong like that. Then we might be in a little trouble. But other than that it should be fine!” He speaks, smirking at his new partner.

When the two reach the main amusement park, Terran gestures to one of the stands. “I’ll climb up and get a topside view. You....try to stay out of trouble and help me find them.” He gives a big jump and lands almost on top of one of the tents, traversing it carefully and moving on to the next few as he looks for the Fishman he saw earlier.

"As long as I dont end up in the water, I'll be fine!" She artfully twirls her pipe staff about. "I'll search from the ground!" She gives a mischievous grin, adjusts her top hat, and runs off, eager to get this started.

~~~~◇◇◇~~~~

Artemis is the daughter of Second in command of the Revolutionary Army; Sabo. He ended up leaving her in the care of Mayor Iceburg, leader of Galley-La, when he was called out by Dragon to return. Sabo told her they would meet again but not for a long while, since duty called. One of her goals ever since she became a pirate, was to Reunite with him in the New World.

As his master and his date continued on through the amusement park, Ingward couldn't help but grimace. His master had already made him threaten a poor, defenseless food vendor for free food, as well as had him throw some poor man and his kids into the ocean because they refused to give up their places in line at the ferris wheel. With a sigh, he looked with grim remembrance at the building they were coming to next...the Sabaody Slave Auction. As he looked up at the approaching building, their party now crossing a large bridge to the island that the Auction was held on, he suddenly heard a voice calling out. Turning around, he saw the drunk girl from before coming up the way, a pipe in her hand. His eyes widen upon seeing her, remembering what his master had said earlier...

"If she should come upon us again, I'll have Ingward crush her skull!"

Ingward nods, silently walking forward to meet the girl head-on, the chain on his body being held tight by Vaclav as it extends, allowing Ingward to move farther and farther away as he walks to meet Artemis. The fishman speaks calmly, attempting to rationalize with Artemis. If he could avoid killing her, he would like to. "You made a big mistake coming here...If you turn around now, and run away, I'll tell my master that I lost you and couldn't catch you. Otherwise..." he holds out a finned hand, water gathering from the air around him and forming a film-like layer on his hand.

"Pfft, Look. I'm tryna help you! We don't think you deserve to be a slave to that bratty kid!" She twirls the pipe as she says it, even though Vaclav was probably older than her. "Buuuut, if you don't wanna be free, then I'll kick your ass anyways!" She slams the pipe into the ground, still grinning as she adjusts her blindfold.

"I may be a tad drunk, but trust me; I fight like I'm stone cold sober." she points to him. "So; Ya wanna be free? I might be able to use someone like you on my crew!!"

~~~~◇◇◇~~~~

During her time with the Maelstrom Pirates, Artemis learned that Freedom was a gift; one not to be wasted. She had to forge her own path and fight for everything she wanted to gain, even if it cost her her life. Life on the seas was freedom; despite her inability to swim. Then again, some of the greatest pirates in history had fruits.

Becoming the New king of the Pirates was a side goal to her. Her real reason for becoming a pirate to give others the exact same gift she had been given; freedom of choice.

Ingward's eyes widened and he looked at Artemis with a surprised look on his face. "You...want to free me? You don't even know me! Even still, I'm the slave of a Celestial Dragon! Freeing me is tantamount to striking a Celestial Dragon in the face! You want a Marine Admiral to come down here?! Your life as a Pirate will be short lived, you lunatic!"

Vaclav, who was standing in earshot, was now red in the face and fuming. "A PIRATE?! AND SHE WANTS TO STEAL MY SLAVE?! INGWARD! KILL HER NOW, OR I WILL ACTIVATE YOUR COLLAR AND BLOW YOUR STINKING FISH-HEAD CLEAN OFF! DO YOU HEAR ME?! YOU USELESS PILE OF SEA SLUDGE!"

Ingward sighed, taking a fighting stance. He knew arguing would be pointless now. Vaclav was a cruel man, but a man of his word. He really would not hesitate to decapitate Ingward if he did not attack. A single tear rolls down Ingward's face. He didn't want to do it, he really didn't, but he had no choice. "Thank you for your kindness...for what its worth, if I wasn't going to lose my head, I would have taken you up on your offer...but, I can't die yet...not until I know if she is okay...Forgive me, Pirate girl..."

He brings back his fist, his muscles bulging as the water on his hand suddenly begins growing, then condensing all at once, as if it was making pressurized layers of water on his palm. "Fishman Karate: 2-Fathom...." He brings his hand down in a chop, hitting the ground of the island he and Artemis were standing on. The ground completely shatters with extreme force, as if a heavy object thousands of tons heavy was hitting the earth. A sharp wave of water explodes forward at Artemis, cutting the ground as it travels. "TILE BREAKING AXE-HAND!"

Artemis rolls off the the left, feeling an inch or two of her hair go missing from the cutting waters. During her roll, several bright, shuriken looking stars form between her fingers and she flings them at him. "Astral Throwing stars!"

Coming out of her roll, she straightens up, back onto her feet and begins twirling her pipe staff about. Cosmic colored gases gather around the motions of the pipe forming a type of shield.

"Astral Prisim Shell!" she then mutters under her breath. "Come on Terran... Where are youuuuu..."

Terran sees the shockwave of water blast apart one of the attractions and he smirks. “Look what I found~” He hops across the roofs of the attractions, drawing one of his daggers as he does so. “Showtime!”

He jumps down from the roof of the attraction closest to the nobleman and with one swift movement, he cuts right into the man’s wrist, forcing him to drop Ingward’s chain. He stands up right afterwards, twirling his dagger once in his hand as he picks up the chain and grins at him. “Hey man, you shouldn’t lose things. There are some terrible people around here.” He jokes, winking at the woman. “What’s a guy like you need a guard for anyways? If you ask me, a real man can defend his own woman and look damn good doing it!” He says as he gives him a swift kick in the chest to send him into the drink below the pier.

He then looks to the noblewoman, putting his dagger away and tossing a coin pouch up into the air, clearly having belonged to the nobleman he had just kicked off into the water. “Hey sweetheart~ You free later? I might show you a good time if you can stand a ‘deranged ruffian’ such as myself. No worries about me hurting you though. I don’t fight women.”

He looks over at Ingward and laughs. “You look kinda surprised! Sorry I was late, I was too busy staring at this lovely young lady that coward had with him.” He takes out some thieves tools and walks over to him, starting to pick at his collar. “Just Hold still and then you’ll be all set man.”

Vaclav could not help but scream like a little girl as he fell into the water below. His companion, however, seemed more enraged than anything. The noblewoman immediately screams, pointing at Terran, Ingward, and Artemis.

"Well, don't just stand there! SHOOT THEM!"

The marines who made up their entourage immediately draw weapons and take aim, their captain preparing to give orders. "Ready, men?! FIRE AT WILL!" Immediately, a hailstorm of bullets begin to fly at the three pirates.

Ingward, however, seemed to have luck on his side, for once. Right as the captain gave the order, he could feel the latch on his slave collar click open as Terran managed to, surprisingly, pick it successfully. As the bullets fly at them, Ingward steps past Artemis and Terran, grabbing the air behind him as if he was grabbing at a massive object. The water in the air suddenly gathers in his hands, forming a vast, ever-expanding orb. "OCEAN CURRENT..." he brings the water over his shoulder and throws it, the orb becoming a trail of high-pressure water that crashes into the line of Marines with great force. "SHOULDER THROW!"

As Ingward washed the marines away with his attack, stopping the bullets mid-air with the blast of water, one of the Marines sits behind a Merry-Go-Round ride, a Transponder Snail in hand as he frantically called for help. "EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! CELESTIAL DRAGON VACLAV HAS BEEN ASSAULTED! ONE OF HIS SLAVES, A FISHMAN, HAS ESCAPED AND IS CAUSING HAVOC! THE CULPRITS RESPONSIBLE ARE A PIRATE AND A THIEF! I REPEAT, CELESTIAL DRAGON VACLAV HAS BEEN ASSAULTED BY PIRATES AND AN ESCAPED FISHMAN SLAVE! PLEASE, SEND BACKUP AS WELL AS AN ADMIRAL!"

The two small, round holes in the sides of Inward's head, his ears, seemed to wiggle in response to hearing the Marine. Despite being a Fishman, his type were known for using Echo-Location in order to travel through the darker parts of the ocean floor. Because of this, Ingward's hearing was far above that of a normal Fishman. He looks to Terran and Artemis, his face still serious. "While I appreciate the help, I think you guys should know that we are now in what I like to call....2 fathoms of shit. They're calling for backup...and since that was a Celestial Dragon that the Master Thief here just knifed in the wrist, you know what that means....an Admiral is going to be here soon. Last I checked, the two closest ones were Kurokame and Shirotora. Either way..." He looks to Artemis, a toothy grin forming. "I hope you have a plan to get us out of here...Captain. I said if I was free, I would join you. The offer still good?"

Artemis turns her attention to ingward, grinning like an idiot. This was what she had been waiting for; a crew of her own.

Nakama.

"Of course the offer is op-" she stops short as a shot rings out, the bullet tearing through her right cheek and exiting through the left. Instead of blood, there was just a spatial mist which quickly reforms her face. Her attention turns to the trembling Marine who shot, the others staring at him, then her.

"Kinda rude, guy." She sighs, holding a hand out to him. "Astral Shift."

Gravity around the marine alters as he starts floating and spinning in place. She once more turns to Ingward. "Now... As I was saying, the offer is always open! And if I'm not mistaken..." She glances at Terran, grinning once more. "You're coming too! Now, let's go before we get caught!"

She takes off for grove 42, where her ship is docked, coated, and ready to go.

Terran sighs loudly. “Well so much for my quiet existence as a thief.”

“So many people causing trouble today. I’d thought I might get a day off but I guess that’s not the case....” A gruff voice says from nearby. The sound of metal plating clinking against each other can be heard as a man with spiked back black hair, amber eyes and a very muscular physique approaches. He wore full armor with a regal design about it, the shield strapped to his left arm appearing to be made not for defense, but offense. A simple longsword is strapped to his hip in its sheath, his face marred by a large scar going diagonally across his entire face over the bridge of his nose. “Hello....Terran.”

Terran nearly freezes in place upon hearing the voice, turning slowly and gulping as he looks up at the armored warrior. “O-Oh....Hey....How’s it going...?”

The warrior crosses his arms and leans against the wooden support strut of an attraction. “Was going alright. Until you assaulted a Celestial Dragon. Granted I don’t like him anymore than you do. But the law is the law. And you broke it....So, I’ll give you three minutes headstart. Starting....” His eyes narrow as heat begins to emanate from his body. “Now.”

Terran grabs the fishman’s wrist and tugs it in the direction of his fleeing new captain. “That’s not good!! Run man! I don’t have a good history with him and believe me when I say, he’ll torch us if we stick around!” He starts to comically dash away after Artemis, more than eager to make an escape before the armored admiral could catch up.

As Terran tugged at Ingward's wrist, the Fishman, for a moment, was frozen in place, staring at the armored man before them. Fear, cold and biting, was running through his spine as his eyes widened, almost blank with terror. It had been only once before, but Ingward had met this man in the past, during his enslavement to Vaclav's family. He couldn't help but look back on that night...the worst night of his entire life.

~Flashback~

As the guests of the Celestial Dragon Tonpetty, father of Ingward's master, Vaclav, continued to move about the vast hall being used for his birthday ball, a man wearing a frilled, white shirt and a pair of ridiculous, pink sunglasses took the center of the floor, a microphone snail in hand. When he spoke, his voice was like burning velvet, full of passion yet smooth.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we now move on to our main event of the evening...Lord Tonpetty's 25th annual Birthday slave auction! And tonight, we have two very special prizes....A Mermaid, wielding the power of a Devil Fruit, as well as a strong Fishman Warrior, recently caught! Please, make your way to your seats so we may begin the festivities!"

The nobles all moved to their tables, as a large stage was brought out and placed in the center of the floor. Ingward was brought up, his entire body chained down as two Marines kept hand cannons close to his head, threatening to shoot if he moved. Over the sound of preparations being made, Ingward found himself being approached by the master of the house, Celestial Dragon Tonpetty. He was a tall man, with slicked-back white hair and a black goatee. He wore a simple, black suit with no tie, indicating him to be none other than a member of the Five Elder Stars, the leaders of the World Government. Tonpetty was smoking a thick cigar as he glared down at Ingward, letting out a cloud of smoke before speaking.

"Five of my men died to day...from the injuries they incurred capturing you and your Mermaid...I will not stand for this. Your strength is undeniable. Hell, many say you reminded them of the warrior Fisher Tiger, with how fiercely you fought to protect her. That is why...I will make sure you will never see her again. This may be an "Auction", but the results were rigged from the get go. She will be sold to a close friend of mine. Separately from you. And you...will be sold to my son, Vaclav. And you will be sold CHEAP, so nobody has the gall to try and outbid him. You will experience hell, Fishman. And then, when your usefulness has run its course, you will die, in disgrace, like all slaves." He turned around, walking back to his chair. Seated with Tonpetty were three imposing figures. Two of which, were hidden by the shadows cast from the stage's spotlights. One was a man, who appeared to be wearing a broad-rimmed hat. The other, a woman, her fierce eyes piercing through the dark. However, the last man, was none other than the armored warrior. However, at this event, he wore the cloak of a Marine Admiral, draped over his shoulders. His eyes were unamused and cold, and all three of the figures gave Ingward the chills. That night, was the last night he saw his darling Lyra, as she was taken off, having been bought by the man with the broad hat.

~Present~

All Ingward could do was tremble, before stuttering out one word. "S-S-S-Shirotora!" Fear gripped Ingward as he turned around, bolting off after Artemis with all his strenght. As he did, he finally caught up to Terran and his new captain. "The enemy could have laid traps out for us! Let me get a good look!" With that, he opens his mouth and lets out a piercing screech that sends out sound waves. The waves travel a few hundred feet through the mangrove garden, mapping out everything before flying back to Ingward and entering his powerful ears. There was indeed something in front of the boat...a large, metal body, shaped like a human. He knew what this was, from his master's father being guarded by such creations. "Heads up! They're going to try and cut us off! My Echolocation shows a large object up ahead...it sounds like a Pacifista, one of the Government's robotic henchmen! However...I think the three of us, together, can take it! Its an early model, A PX, judging by the metallic sound that came back! What are your orders, Captain?"

Artemis looks deep in thought as she processes this new information, before looking to her new crew with an idiotic grin. even though her eyes were hidden behind a blindfold, they could tell what she was thinking.

"The pacifista is blocking the route to grove 42. Lets hit it with everything we have, and get the hell outta here!"

~~~~◇◇◇~~~~

During her time with the Maelstrom pirates, Artemis was recognized for one thing; her recklessness. She was raised by the calm, level headed Galley-La Shipwrights, and she certainly didn't get it from Strom. That left two options as to where her reckless actions and carefree attitude came from; Her parents. Koala was far too motherly and mature... leaving only one. Sabo, while loyal to his friends and the Revolutionary Army, was reckless and had a great habit of disregarding his duties to protect what he loved.

Who knows what else she picked up from him?"

~~~~◇◇◇~~~~

Artemis pulled the pipe staff from her back and adjusted her hat before her lower half ignited with starlight. As she gained speed, she veered her course to go right for the Pacifista. Cosmic gasses poured out of the ends of the pipe, forming two large spearheads. She launches herself straight for it's chest, Star spear at the ready.

"yyyYEEEAAAHHHHHH!!!" she laughs, disregarding the seriousness of the fight. "Astral Spear! Come on! The faster we take this down, the faster we can set sail!!"